GRANVILLE, OH – Wabash’s young and fast defense gave up a few yards but no points Saturday in a 35-2 North Coast Athletic Conference opener at Denison. The Little Giants (2-0) picked off four passes and sacked the Big Red quarterback seven times to stifle the 0-2 hosts in their home opener. With the win The Wabash Little Giants move up to Number 7in the nation in Division III football.
The Big Red offense moved the ball at times but turned the ball over or succumbed to the Little Giants smothering defense. Besides the four interceptions and seven sacks, Denison also fumbled the ball over two times.
“Our defense gave up some yards but then came up with the stops when we needed it,” Coach Erik Raeburn
said. “The defense just did a great job again of keeping them out of the end zone and did a great job on creating turnovers.” The Wabash defense has produced eight interceptions in two games. The Little Giants finished the 2011 season with 16 picks in 13 games.
Former Plymouth Rockie Austin Hodges had his second straight two interception game running his total to 4 interceptions on the season. Austin also had 3 solo tackles and two assists. Former Plymouth Rockie Houston Hodges had several pass break-ups on the day to go along with two solo tackles and 1 assist. Houston also had a kick return for ten yards.
Sophomore linebacker Cody Buresh had one of the biggest games of his career. Buresh was credited with 11 tackles, forcing a fumble, and 3.5 quarterback sacks.
“It was the same motivation as always and that’s to go out there and do what we do,” Buresh said. “Today it looked like Wabash football again. Last week we were off a little bit, maybe it was first game jitters. But everything was cooking today, it was just a blast.”
Buresh’s monster game topped all Little Giant defenders. Austin Hodges had his second straight two interception game and his best overall day as a Little Giant.
After being on the road for the first two games the Little Giants will finally get to play in front of their always raucous home crowd Saturday when Allegheny (1-1) visits for Community Day. Admission is free.
